Sanders v. Johnson

29 Ga. 526

• Court: Supreme Court of Georgia
• Decided: November 15, 1859
• Status: Published

Opinion

— Benning J.

By the Court.

delivering the opinion.

Was the Court below right in refusingto charge as requested ? We think so.

[1.] If the note, was given otherwise than in the exercise of “any worldly labor, business, or work of the ordinary” “ callings” of the parties to it, the note, though made on .Sunday, was not within the Act of 1762, (Cobb 853,) and, therefore, was not rendered void by that Act. The request takes no notice of this hypothesis, but assumes, that «//notes made on Sunday, are void, except those made-in “works of necessity or charity.” The request was, therefore, we think, erroneous. Drury vs. Defontaine, 1 Taunt. 131; Bloxsome vs. Williams, 3 B. and C., 233, 234; Sandiman vs. Beach, B. and C., 96; Rex vs. Inhabitants of Whitrash, 7 B. and C., 596; Chitty on Con. 423.

Was the charge right ? We see no error in it.

[2.] It does not appear from the evidence, that the note was made by the parties to it, in the exercise of “ worldly labor, business, or work, of their ordinary callings;” and the onus was upon the defendant, (the plaintiff in error,)-to show, that it was. It is to be presumed, that all persons are innocent until it is shown, that they are guilty. It is to be -presumed, therefore, that the making of the note was nod in-the exercise of the ordinary callings of the parties to the. note, until the contrary is shown. The evidence does not tell us, what was the ordinary , calling of any of those parties — the payee — the principal — the surety. The onus then, standing as it did, and the evidence being as it was, we thinly with the Court below, that the note was to be regarded as “ collectable.”

Thus far, the aim has been, to show, that the case is not within the Act of 1762. But even if it were within that Act, two serious questions would remain — one, whether the note would be void. In Comyn vs. Boyer, (Cro. Eliz., 485,) the King’s bench held, that a contract within a similar statute, was not void. That- Court’s view, probably, was, that the penalty was to be inflicted, but that the contract was to he held good. And it is difficult to suppose, that any Legislature could intend to aid dishonesty, by allowing parties to repudiate their obligations, merely because incurred on Sunday. Encouraging crime is a poor way to punish crime.

The other question is, whether the Act of 1762, was not,, repealed by the 10th section of the 4th article of the Consti «ution of Georgia. Does not that Act give to those “religious societies,” which believe, that the “ Lord’s day” is the first day of the week, a “ preference” over those which believe, that the “Lord’s day” is the seventh day of the week? If it does, it is in conflict with that section.

These questions we do not determine, that not being necessary in the view we take of the ease.’

Judgment affirmed.